News: Battalion honors fallen heroes with wall memorial

Marines assigned to 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment created a memorial wall for their fallen heroes at Camp Habbaniyah, Iraq Sept.14. The wall's decoration was inspired from the Purple Heart, an award given to servicemembers who were killed or wounded during combat operations. It reads "Fallen Heroes" across the top on an arched ribbon in eggplant, eggshell white, marigold, burgundy, olive and lavender paint with bold black outlines under a thin gloss coating. The wall is also adorned with framed pictures and hanging identification tags of fallen comrades. The Marines died conducting combat operations in Iraq's Al Anbar Province. The Marines were serving a seven-month deployment in the Habbaniyah area under Regimental Combat Team 5.

"The wall is appropriate," said Staff Sgt. Frank Lipcsak, a 35-year-old platoon sergeant from New Orleans assigned to L Company. "I think it serves as a reminder of the sacrifices those Marines made for the other Marines here."

A handful of Marines painted, drilled and hammered the wall for three days in addition to fulfilling their everyday work schedules.

The wall's decoration was inspired from the Purple Heart – an award given to servicemembers who were wounded or killed during combat operations.

It reads "Fallen Heroes" across the top on an arched ribbon in eggplant, eggshell white, marigold, burgundy, olive and lavender paint with bold black outlines under a thin gloss coating.

The wall is also adorned with framed pictures and hanging identification tags of their fallen comrades.

Many were pleased when their fellow Marines finished after three days of painting and drilling.

"It was good that those Marines were honored, remembered," said 2nd Lt. William F. Heinzelmann, Combined Anti-Armor Team Platoon commander.

The 26-year-old infantry officer from Allentown, Pa., said he liked the results but was more appreciative of the Marines' selflessness.

"I was thankful to those Marines for their sacrifice," he said.

Heinzelmann's Marines agreed.

"I felt privileged to know that I served with them," said Sgt. Mark S. Barnes, a 25-year-old tow gunner from Paulding, Ohio, assigned to CAAT Platoon. "They gave the ultimate sacrifice."